Fox News concerned about ‘hate speech’ from Obama supporters

Fox News contributor Brad Blakeman Monday rebuked Teamster president Jimmy Hoffa Jr. for using “hate speech” at a Labor Day rally in Detroit prior to remarks from President Barack Obama.

After presenting an edited video of Hoffa referring to Republicans by saying, “let’s take these sons of bitches out,” Fox News host Megyn Kelly gave Blakeman a chance to respond.

“I think it’s thuggery at it’s best,” Blakeman replied. “It’s what unions are good at. It’s what we’ve seen in Wisconsin and other places, intimidation… This is the touchy feely act before President Obama arrives? I mean, these are the kind of remarks you’d expect out of Tony Soprano, not a union president. Well, I take that back. Hoffa presidency is the type of person you’d hear this type of rhetoric.”

“When a union president says, ‘let’s take these sons of bitches out,’ it usually means somebody’s legs are going to get broken, somebody is going to disappear. Tea party people don’t use that kind of rhetoric.”

But Hoffa was clearly talking about voting Republicans out of office. His full quote said: “Everybody here has a vote. If we go back and we keep the eye on the prize. Let’s take these sons of bitches out and give America back to America where we belong.”

About the Author

David Edwards has served as an editor at Raw Story since 2006. His work can also be found at Crooks & Liars, and he's also been published at The BRAD BLOG. He came to Raw Story after working as a network manager for the state of North Carolina and as as engineer developing enterprise resource planning software. Follow him on Twitter at @DavidEdwards.